The engagement, held on Tuesday at PURA’s headquarters in Kanifing, brought together senior officials from PURA and a delegation from OTL Africa led by its Chief Executive Officer, Mrs. Joyce Akabogu. The visit marked a significant step toward deepening cooperation between The Gambia and regional energy stakeholders as the country seeks to improve energy security, attract investment, and strengthen regulatory frameworks within the petroleum sector.
The courtesy visit also served as an opportunity for OTL Africa to formally invite Gambian stakeholders to participate in the organisation’s 20th Anniversary OTL Africa Downstream Energy Week, scheduled to take place in Nigeria in October 2026.
The meeting featured a comprehensive presentation on the state of The Gambia’s petroleum industry by Ismaila Jadama, Deputy Director of Petroleum, Water and Energy at PURA. The presentation highlighted the country’s regulatory environment, market opportunities, infrastructure development needs, and ongoing reforms aimed at enhancing efficiency and sustainability within the sector.
Speaking during the meeting, Solo Sima, Deputy Director General of PURA, underscored the importance of positioning The Gambia within key continental discussions shaping the future of Africa’s energy landscape.
“PURA remains committed to ensuring that The Gambia is strategically positioned within continental conversations that influence the future direction of the energy sector,” he stated.
Sima acknowledged that The Gambia remains fully dependent on imported petroleum products but noted that growing economic activity, expanding transportation demands, and national development aspirations continue to drive increased energy consumption across the country.
To address these challenges, he said PURA has identified several strategic priorities, including strengthening fuel quality assurance systems, supporting harmonisation efforts in line with ECOWAS directives, expanding petroleum infrastructure, and promoting greater transparency within the fuel pricing framework.
According to him, the authority is also focusing on improving compliance monitoring and enforcement mechanisms, enhancing incident response systems, and investing in capacity-building initiatives designed to facilitate knowledge transfer and the adoption of international best practices.
“Our commitment extends beyond national borders. The Gambia remains firmly dedicated to regional integration and continental cooperation in the energy sector,” Sima said.
He further explained that PURA continues to work closely with the Ministry of Petroleum, Energy and Mines, petroleum marketing companies, depot operators, and other industry stakeholders to create a more resilient and efficient downstream petroleum market.
Sima encouraged OTL Africa to continue showcasing The Gambia as a stable, reform-oriented, and investment-friendly destination for energy investments.
“Despite our relatively small size, we believe The Gambia offers valuable insights and experiences that can contribute meaningfully to broader continental conversations on regulation, market development, and energy access,” he added.
For her part, Mrs. Joyce Akabogu highlighted OTL Africa’s two-decade journey in promoting collaboration and innovation within Africa’s downstream energy industry.
She explained that OTL Africa operates as a pan-African downstream energy initiative focused on capacity building, industry publications, business matchmaking, and facilitating engagement between governments and private sector actors across the continent.
“For the past 20 years, OTL Africa has worked to bring together regulators, policymakers, investors, and private sector players across Africa to foster dialogue, share knowledge, and create opportunities for growth within the energy sector,” she said.
Akabogu noted that the organisation has successfully built bridges among stakeholders across the continent, helping to strengthen cooperation and drive policy discussions aimed at improving Africa’s energy future.
She said the visit to The Gambia was specifically aimed at deepening strategic engagement with PURA and the Ministry of Petroleum, Energy and Mines while exploring opportunities for greater collaboration between Nigeria and The Gambia, as well as across the wider West African region.
“The objective is to strengthen relationships, identify mutually beneficial opportunities, and support sustainable growth within the regional energy space,” she stated.
The meeting comes at a time when many African countries are pursuing stronger regional partnerships to improve energy access, enhance fuel supply chains, and attract investment into critical infrastructure projects.
For The Gambia, the engagement signals a growing determination to position itself as an active participant in Africa’s evolving energy landscape, leveraging partnerships and knowledge-sharing platforms to strengthen regulation, improve market efficiency, and support long-term economic development.
As preparations begin for OTL Africa’s landmark 20th Anniversary Energy Week, stakeholders say the discussions have laid the foundation for deeper cooperation that could unlock new opportunities for investment, innovation, and sustainable growth within The Gambia’s downstream petroleum sector.
